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Either way, anything less than a serious consequence would be a failure of this court’s duty to protect the public.
Now, I want to address something directly.
There are people who will watch what happens here today and say, “Judge Caprio is being too harsh.
He is known for being compassionate.
He is known for giving people breaks.
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Why is he being so tough in this case? My answer is simple.
Compassion without accountability isn’t compassion at all.
It is enabling.
When I give someone a break, when I reduce a sentence, when I show mercy, it is because I see genuine remorse.
It is because I see someone who understands what they did wrong and wants to make it right.
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It is because I see someone who made a mistake but isn’t defined by that mistake.
But I don’t see any of that here.
What I see is someone who thinks she is untouchable.
I see someone who has shown through her actions and words that she has learned nothing from this experience except maybe that she needs better lawyers next time.
And let me tell you something else.
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The defense mentioned that Madison Thornton has no prior criminal record.
That is true.
She has never been arrested or convicted before.
Normally, that would weigh heavily in favor of leniency.
But you know what? Most 23-year-olds don’t have criminal records.
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That is not special.
That is the bare minimum of being a law-abiding citizen.
We don’t give out awards for not breaking the law up until now.
I also want to address the argument that she is young, born in 2001, and that we should give her a chance to grow.
Look, I understand that argument.
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Young people make mistakes.
Their brains are still developing.
They don’t always think about consequences.
But here is the thing.
At 23 years old, you’re old enough to vote.
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You have been able to vote since you were 18.
You are old enough to serve in the military.
You are old enough to sign contracts and get married.
And you are certainly old enough to know that driving 70 mph in a 25 zone is dangerous.
You are old enough to know that threatening a police officer is wrong.
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You are old enough to know that mocking someone on social media with 47,000 followers watching is cruel.
And you are certainly old enough to know that when you get caught doing something wrong on August 15th, you don’t double down and do it again three days later on August 18th.
This isn’t about a young person making an innocent mistake.
This is about someone who has been raised to believe that rules don’t apply to them.
Unless this court intervenes, unless we send a clear and unmistakable message right now, I fear what might happen next time because there will be a next time.
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People with this attitude, with this level of arrogance, do not stop until something forces them to stop.
